HEKS/EPER is making a difference in the «Public services» in the Ukraine

Transcarpathia is a very poor region in southwestern Ukraine. 60 per cent of the country’s population are poor, and every fourth person lives below the poverty line. But the Ukrainian State hardly takes care of them. The Reformed Church in Transcarpathia therefore champions the cause of these people, with the support of HEKS/EPER. The Beregovo Diaconal Centre has become a vital point of contact. It provides destitute people with a warm meal, clothing and other relief supplies. Single mothers find refuge in the women's shelter, and the elderly receive adequate care at the nursing home. The Reformed Church also operates two care centres for children with disabilities, it organizes holiday camps for young people and is developing a home care service for care-dependent people.

Facts

In 2017, 20 women and their children found shelter from domestic violence thanks HEKS/EPER.

280 needy people as well as children at four schools received a hot meal every day.

Education, healthcare, social welfare and infrastructure such as electricity, water, waste disposal or roadways are among the services that a State generally provides for its citizens – affordably and of sufficiently good quality. Regrettably, this is hardly the case in the countries where HEKS/EPER operates. Minorities, older people or people with disabilities as well as communities in remote areas face particular difficulty. HEKS/EPER supports disadvantaged people in accessing public services, and promotes dialogue between the population and the authorities.